Radnor Mummer, Fralinger pals intend to march despite warehouse fire

Members of the Fralinger String Band have been planning a spectacular fright-night theme for the 2013 News Year’s Day Mummers Parade.-

On Monday night that theme unfortunately became too true.

A four-alarm fire destroyed the Second and Wharton streets warehouse in South Philadelphia where the band stored its props and floats.

“The props have been worked on for months,” said George J. Badey III, a longtime Fralinger member and St. Davids resident.

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During an interview Tuesday morning, Badey, who is chairman of the Radnor Township Democratic Committee and ran an unsuccessful bid to unseat 7th District Congressman U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, said band members had not had an opportunity to enter the building to survey the damage. He said aside from the props, the band stored about $40,000 worth of tools there.

The cause of the fire was determined to be wiring in an auto repair shop in the back of the building.

The elaborate costumes were not in the warehouse, said Badey, as they are in the homes of individual members.

Despite the setback, said Badey, who is a Philadelphia-based attorney and has been involved in the club since the mid-1970s, Fralinger members are in high spirits and intend to march on New Year’s Day.

Badey plays the tenor saxophone. His two sons, Michael and George IV, are now in college but have been involved in the Fralinger organization.

“Absolutely…no question that we intend to march,” he said, adding that the band, which was started in 1915 and is one of the city’s oldest, winning eight consecutive first prizes between 2003 and 2010, plans to kick rebuilding activities into high gear.

He said the band members, whose clubhouse is at 1901 S. Third St., are more concerned with neighbors’ homes that were damaged in the blaze.

The Fralinger organization, which was recently involved in a fundraiser to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, has established a website to collect donations for a rebuilding fund as well as share the proceeds with residents whose homes were damaged. The website is www.fralinger.org.

Badey, who is the chairman of www.savethemummers.com, expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support shown from other Mummers’ clubs. He noted, “364 days a year we are a big family and one day a year we compete against each other.”